Three nights a week for three months on dry skin: tingles briefly, cheeks smoother, sun spots a shade lighter, no smell. Wear SPF with it.
Real User Reviews of Skincare Products
8,837 reviews from users, Reddit, and YouTube, ranked by what people actually say.
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From users, and from around the web with the source linked.
My skin is sensitive and flushes easily. the texture is nice, thick but sort of whipped so it rubs in without a fight. but every time i put it on around my nose and cheeks it stung for a few minutes and left me redder than before. tried it 4 nights in a row, same each time. turns out there's eucalyptus oil near the end of the ingredient list, which i missed before buying. if essential oils set you off, check that first. my hands and elbows love it so the tub isn't wasted at least.
Fragrance free and it actually calms my cheeks down after retinol nights. Feels rich but sinks in, no shine by morning. Only 50 ml so it goes fast.
Wanted to love this one. It's thin like milk, zero white cast, and foundation sits on it fine. But my eyes. About twenty minutes after I put it on they start watering and it comes and goes for half the day, even though I stay well clear of the lids. By lunch my forehead and nose are shiny and I'm combination, not super oily. Turns out it's all chemical filters (avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene), which I didn't look at before ordering. Not cheap for a 2 oz bottle either. Giving the rest to my sister
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most new reviewsgot me through my first month on tret, I only put it on the flaky patches at night bc it leaves a whitish film if I'm lazy about rubbing it in.
Face felt tight after every wash and I got a few new bumps on my chin by week two. Stopped using it. Maybe fine for dry skin but my oily skin hated it
Paid forty something for the small jar because the whole internet said it was perfect for oily skin. Feels nice going on, cool and bouncy, but by afternoon I was shiny and I got a cluster of little bumps along my jaw in week two. Stopped for ten days, they calmed down. Not worth it for me.
Can't beat the value, one jar last me for many months, I use it every night after I apply retinol. I like it, it keep my face nice and moist. It's not the lightest or the heaviest, somewhere in between, the scent is light.
OK so i wanted the glow everyone talks about and my face just got angry. Used it every other night like the bottle says and by week two my cheeks were red and it STUNG every single time, then i got little bumps along my jaw that i never get. Stopped it and it took like 10 days to calm down. Maybe fine for tougher skin, mine hated it. the price was nice at least.
Ive been using this daily for about 3 months now as my everyday spf. Honestly the texture is what sold me, it sinks in fast and theres no white cast on me at all, which is rare for a 50. My combo skin doesnt get greasy by lunch like with my old one. Only small gripe is it pilled a little when i layered powder over it too soon. Cheap enough that i already bought a second tube.
Fragrance-free and properly thick. That's pretty much my wish list for a basic cream.
Broke me out within a week, my chin is not happy. Way too heavy for oily skin.
Really wanted to like this. No perfume, simple face wash, exactly my thing. But my cheeks feel tight afterwards and I'm reaching for moisturiser straight away. I don't need that squeaky clean feeling. Just too drying for my skin unfortunately.
Says it pills instantly on their skin.
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“LRP double repair is also a no go. It pills instantly on my skin.”
Redness from overuse calmed and came back after two weeks.
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“I’m about 2 weeks out from overuse and redness. It calmed but then came back.”
No breakouts or reactions on very sensitive skin, but it does little, leaves skin dull and can't remove sunscreen.
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“Aveeno calm and restore oat cleanser. My skin doesn’t break out at all with this. No reactions! But my skin is dull because it doesn’t do much and definitely can’t take off sunscreen.”
Good things check out: nothing spectacular but a great moisturizer, though too pricey for full size.
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“I’ve heard a lot of good things about this and they check out, nothing spectacular but it’s a great moisturizer.”
Great for rosacea on the cheeks; the redness is toned down for light makeup.
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“The Anua azelaic acid is great. I have rosacea on my cheeks and this helps.”
Works like a miracle on combination skin used one or two nights a week.
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“I have combination skin and this works like miracle for me.”
Can sting their irritated winter skin.
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“I get skin so irritated in the winter it can sting from Cicalfate cream but the Farmacy never does me wrong.”
Super gentle and never stings even when their skin is angry.
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“the LRP hydrating one (the white bottle) is way better, super gentle, never stings even when my skin is angry.”
Used the toner on a stubborn scalp dermatitis several times a week and had a clear scalp after two weeks.
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“I left it on and did not rinse and after two weeks the symptoms went away and I had a clear scalp.”
Is using it right now and loving it, and sees no reason yet to try the Cetaphil alternative.
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“The CeraVe cream to foam is what I’m using right now and am loving it!”
Went through a whole jar of the Anua azelaic acid without changing their scars.
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“I've been looking up stuff about them for so long and went through a whole jar of anua azelaic acid but it didn't change anything and I dont usually see people with their scars like mine so idk”
One of the best moisturizers they've used on dry skin during tretinoin.
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“In my experience, the best ones have been La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+, Avène Cicalfate+, Skinbetter Science Trio, and SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore.”
One of the best moisturizers they've used on dry skin during tretinoin.
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“In my experience, the best ones have been La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+, Avène Cicalfate+, Skinbetter Science Trio, and SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore.”
No difference on acne scars but improved texture, tone, clarity and glow over years.
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“Acne scars? 0 difference. Skin texture, tone, clear skin and glow? Yes.”
An oily, acne-prone user who has tried many products says switching to Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser four months ago worked wonders for their breakouts.
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“But now I have switched to Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser since the last 4 months and it has worked wonders honestly.”
Has tried to upgrade three times, including pricier ceramide serums and an LRP barrier cream, but always returns to the $15 CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
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“I’ve tried to “step up” three times now. Some super expensive serum with ceramides, barrier cream from La Roche-Posay that everyone raves about, but always go back to the tub.”
Calls Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream the best moisturiser ever; nothing pricier has beaten it.
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“Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. Best moisturizer to ever exist.”
Puts The Ordinary Azelaic Acid on fresh pimples at night and is amazed how much better they look by morning.
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“Azelaic acid might help, the one from the Ordinary is great on a fresh pimple—I’ve put it on at night and been staggered in the morning at how much better the pimple was.”
After four years of acne, the CeraVe Blemish Control (Acne Control) Gel is the only thing that has helped them.
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“I’ve found that the cerave blemish control works wonders! In the US it’s acne control gel”
Fades redness around old scars far more than the indent itself.
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“It fades the redness around my old scars way more than the actual indent itself, the texture stayed about the same for me”
With severe eczema, has used CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for years without any issues.
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“I have been using the cerave moisturising cream for a few years. I buy the big tub and it lasts me about 3-4 months. It works for me and I have not had any issues with it”
Their holy grail for 1.5 years on dry skin with retinol; wakes up moisturized.
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“Tatcha Dewy Cream is my HG for the past 1.5 years”
A user who builds their night routine around Anua and numbuzin products uses CeraVe Moisturizing Cream as their moisturizer and says it is the only CeraVe product they actually like.
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“Moisturizer: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (The only thing I actually like by them)”
After about five years using the Water Cream by day, a user finds it wonderfully hydrating, sinking in well and unmatched by anything else they've tried.
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“I've been using Tatcha's water cream (for daytime) and the Dewy Skin Cream at night for about 5 years. It's wonderfully hydrating and moisturizing.”
An oily-skinned user finds the Aqua-Fresh doesn't sting the eyes but pills a lot.
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“I am currently using beauty of joseon aqua fresh for oily skin and while it doesn’t sting the eyes, it pills a lot.”
A tretinoin user says Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is the only moisturizer that doesn't burn their skin when they overdo tret, gentle and fragrance free.
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“Vanicream daily moisturizer. It’s the only thing that doesn’t burn my skin when I use tret accidentally applied too much.”
A drugstore skincare fan says the Byoma Moisturizing Gel Cream is one of their two most repurchased holy grails, using it in summer.
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“Byoma gel cream moisturizer for the summer.”
A user says their skin absolutely rejected The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, suspects the zinc, and advises patch testing first.
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“My skin absolutely rejected that The Ordinary niacinamide formulation, and I suspect the Zinc component, so do a patch test first.”
A longtime user of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream in the tub had no issues for years, but since starting tretinoin it no longer moisturizes enough and their skin feels tight and irritated.
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“I’ve been using CeraVe in the tub for years and never really had an issue with it until I started tretinoin.”
A user who has repurchased Cicaplast Baume B5 countless times over years loves it and finds other moisturizers overstimulating, but says it is too greasy and shiny for daytime without makeup.
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“I’ve been using La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 for years. I’ve honestly lost count of how many times I’ve repurchased it. I love everything about it”
On acne-prone, sensitive, dry skin, the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream is their favorite moisturizer of all time.
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“I have acne prone, sensitive, dry skin and my favorite moisturizer of all time is the dewy skin cream.”
Works when CeraVe, Cetaphil and Vanicream moisturizers didn't.
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“My skin also hates these moisturizers... Korean skincare for the win! I use Anua 3 ceramide cream.”
A year on it has transformed their skin, after quitting tretinoin they couldn't tolerate.
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“I've currently been using the retinal for a year and it's transformed my skin.”
Loves it after tretinoin with no reactions or acne, at a fraction of luxury prices.
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“I've been using Avene Tolerance Control Cream and I absolutely love it. I use it after my Tretinoin and have not had any reactions or acne.”
Broke them out, worse than any other CeraVe product.
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“every cerave product I’ve tried has broken me out, that face wash especially.”
Worked well after CeraVe repeatedly gave them texture and comedones.
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“Vanicream cleanser has worked well for me, OP.”
Wouldn't use anything else: heavy but unscented, dries fairly quickly, and their skin has never been more consistent.
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“I use beauty of Joseon dynasty cream and wouldnt use anything else. It is quite heavy but no scent or anything, and it dries fairly quickly.”
Doesn't sting their eczema- and rosacea-prone dry skin even with a weak barrier.
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“Mixsoon bean essence and bean cream. I have eczema and rosacea and dry sensitive skin…and these products don’t sting me when my barrier is lacking.”
Doesn't sting their eczema- and rosacea-prone dry skin even with a weak barrier.
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“Mixsoon bean essence and bean cream. I have eczema and rosacea and dry sensitive skin…and these products don’t sting me when my barrier is lacking.”
Never fails them and reduces redness when the usual moisturizers didn't work.
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“First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream never fails me and it reduces redness.”
Their fragrance-free moisturizer after itchy rashes stopped with removing fragrance.
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“I use La Roche Posay Double Repair moisturizer.”
Has helped their sensitive, red, dry skin.
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“Have you tried La Roche-Posay Cicaplast or Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream? Both you can find at drug stores or Target and have helped my sensitive red and dry skin.”
Gentle enough for their very sensitive skin once or twice a week, unlike harsher exfoliants.
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“I really like first aid beauty’s facial radiance pads,which have a combination of low percentage glycolic (2% I think) and lactic acid that doesn’t irritate my insanely sensitive skin.”
Switched to the Skin Renewing Night Cream for very dry skin and wears it day and night: heavier than the regular cream, thick but not greasy, takes a minute to sink in.
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“its much heavier than the regular stuff, i use it in the day too even though it says night cream cause my skin is so dry now. not greasy just thick and takes a minute to soak in”
Recommends Lipid Gold as not too heavy but very moisturizing and long-lasting.
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“Not super heavy, but very moisturizing and long lasting.”
The Hydrating Cleanser is a forever rebuy that never leaves their skin tight.
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“the hydrating cleanser is my forever rebuy, never lets my skin feel tight after washing”
Loves the Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh: very light, doesn't break them out and leaves no white cast.
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“I personally love the Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief Aqua Fresh. It's really light and doesn't break me out or leave any white cast.”
Eventually made their skin red, probably the niacinamide.
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“Vanicream daily moisturizer eventually made me red! I think it’s the niacinamide that my skin doesn’t like.”
The classic CeraVe Moisturizing Cream in the tub is their holy grail when their skin is upset: thick, moisturizing and quick to absorb.
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“It's thick, moisturizing, super simple, feels amazing, absorbs quickly, and is my HG whenever my skin is grumpy”
Works for their sensitive skin that reacts to ceramides and cetearyl alcohol.
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“try LRP Cicaplast Baume B5-- WITHOUT SPF. Just the regular degular Cicaplast.”
Really likes the Dewy Skin Cream, one of their favourite winter moisturizers; the fragrance is fairly light.
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“I find it to be a pretty light fragrance, and I really like the cream. It was one of my fav moisturizers last winter.”
Loves it after Vanicream turned them red.
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“I switched to the Anua 3+ ceramide moisturizer and I love it!”
Dried their skin out badly, so they switched.
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“Yeah the foaming cleanser dried my skin out bad.”
Fine used sparingly on their sensitive dry skin, but breaks them out with daily use.
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“The daily moisturizer I can use sparingly but it breaks me out if I use it everyday.”
Has helped their sensitive, red, dry skin.
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“Have you tried La Roche-Posay Cicaplast or Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream? Both you can find at drug stores or Target and have helped my sensitive red and dry skin.”
Loved it, though they find it expensive.
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“I loved la Roche posy cicaplast baume but it's so expensive.”
Owns Cicaplast B5+ but finds it much thicker and harder to spread than their usual tret-night moisturizer.
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“I also have Cicaplast B5+, but find it much thicker and harder to spread.”
60+ days as directed and it did nothing.
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“I was so excited to get this product and also found it did nothing?! I have been using it for 60+ days, as directed etc.”
A long-time user always returns to the Tatcha Water Cream for daytime after trying others over the years.
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“I use the water cream for day and dewy moisturizer at night. I’ve tried others over the years but always, always go back.”
A longtime user swears by EltaMD UV Clear: no sunscreen smell, forgettable once on and never caused breakouts, though it is pricey where they live.
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“I've sworn by eltaMD UV clear for years. No sunscreen smell, once it's on I forget about it, and it never caused breakouts for me the way some other sunscreens have.”
A user with bone-dry skin uses Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream at night alongside the Water Cream and is very happy with both.
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“Tatcha Water Cream for daytime moisturizer and Tatcha Dewy skin cream for night time. My complexion is bone dry but with lots of hydrating milky toners and these two moisturizers no one would ever know.”
A user with hormonal cystic acne calls La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer gentle, effective and a life saver that doesn't break them out.
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“La Roche posay double repair matte face moisturizer , gentle and effective and doesnt break me out , I get hormonal cystic acne and thisbis a life saver”
A dry, sensitive-skinned user has repurchased La Roche-Posay's B5 balm for years: spots heal faster and dry patches are gone, though it can be heavy in summer.
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“Personally, La Roche’s B5 balm. It’s been a solid repurchase for a couple of years now. I have dry sensitive skin and it’s been amazing.”
Can't go without it: no white cast on brown skin and doesn't flare their rosacea.
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“I’m a supergoop convert. Can’t go without unseen invisible gel.”
The tinted mineral works on them.
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“Using Elta MD 41 mineral sunscreen, it’s tinted but works on me.”
Their face and body moisturizer; they haven't gone back to their old one.
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“The daily moisturizing lotion in the largest bottle for face and body moisturizer.”
The only thing that stops their face peeling on low-dose Accutane; a little sticky.
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“I slug with a thin layer of the cerave healing ointment at night and it's the only thing that's actually kept my face from peeling off when I wake up”
Swears by it as a midday hydration mist.
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“I swear by my Avene thermal water”
Helped with their oily skin and large pores.
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“Azelaic acid from the ordinary helped me with these”
Cleared up redness under their nose when a derm prescription didn't.
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“Anua azalaic acid seemed to clear it up.”
The Ordinary's glycolic acid helped their texture a lot, but left their combination skin red and sometimes itchy from dryness even after moisturizing.
Imports the Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh and likes it.
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“I like beauty of Joseon sun relief aqua fresh.”
Calls the Hydrating Cleanser a no-nonsense, affordable and reliable cleanser.
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“Cerave hydrating cleanser for a no nonsense cleanser that’s affordable and reliable”
Loves the Moisturizing Cream as a hand cream but finds it too greasy for their face.
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“I also use their moisturizing cream as a hand cream and I love it for that, but it's too greasy on my face.”
The Acne Control Gel seemed to work at first, then less so, so they moved to something else.
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“sometimes i use the acne control gel it seemed like it worked at first but now i feel like maybe not as much so i switched to something else.”
Even one use of the Vanicream face wash leaves their skin tight and irritated, with tiny red bumps the next day.
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“Every time I use vanicream face wash even once my skin gets tight and irritated and I get tiny red bumps literally the next day.”
Loves the Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser (and the Double Repair moisturizer).
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“I love both of these products!”
Loves the Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer (and the Hydrating Gentle Cleanser).
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“I love both of these products!”
Someone with sensitive skin and hormonal acne finds the Haruharu black rice toner excellent.
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“I just started using Haru Haru black rice cleanser (the toner from this line is excellent).”
Tried Lala Retro again: it doesn't hydrate their skin and almost irritates it, unlike other moisturizers they use.
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“I tried it again this month and it doesn’t moisturize. My skin doesn’t get hydrated from it. It’s almost irritated?”
Uses Laneige Cream Skin when their face is irritated: very gentle, never stings, like a comforting thin layer of milk.
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“Oh Laneige cream skin is super gentle, I use it when my face is angry and it never stings.”
Their pick under makeup because it feels like a primer.
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“i stick with my eltamd uv clear for makeup bc it feels like a primer.”
Nothing has worked better for them.
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“I use La Roche Posay cicaplast and nothing has ever worked better”
The Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is probably their favourite cleanser ever.
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“I absolutely love the cream to foam cleanser. Probably my favorite cleanser I’ve ever tried.”
Loves the Hydrating Cleanser as a morning cleanser.
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“i really love the hydrating cleanser in the morning too!”
Likes the Moisturizing Cream on the face too: a smooth, slightly dry finish and a unique texture.
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“i also use the moisturizing cream as a hand cream but i also really like it on the face as it leaves a smooth kinda „dry“ finish on me”
Found Lala Retro thin yet greasy, never sinking in, with their face tight an hour later; used up the jar on their elbows.
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“that cream is weirdly thin and somehow greasy at the same time without actually sinking in. My face felt tight an hour later every time I used it.”
A 42-year-old with dry, sensitive skin tried Cicaplast Balm B5 as a richer daily moisturizer and it broke them out within a week.
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“I just tried LRP Cicaplast Baum B5 but it broke me out in under a week.”
Lala Retro just sits on top of their skin without doing anything, frustrating for the price.
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“I swear, that texture just sits on top of my skin without doing ANYTHING”
Two years with the Drying Lotion: shrinks deep painful pimples overnight about 70% of the time.
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“I've been using that Mario Badescu for maybe 2 years now.”
A user with combination skin says the Glow Recipe Watermelon toner works beautifully for them.
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“Skincare - Glow recipe watermelon toner, glow recipe niacinamide serum My skin type is combination with oily at zone and dry cheeks and these products work beautifully for me.”
A user finds Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen weightless and elegant with no white cast, though it made their combination skin look a bit shiny.
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“Tatcha the silk. Mineral, weightless, elegant, no white cast. Very fluid. I don't even know it's there.”
A former skincare enthusiast says Tatcha The Water Cream was the best moisturizer they ever used and their skin was never better, but stopped because of the price.
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“the Tatcha Water Cream was the best moisturizer I have ever used, and I used to be extremely obsessed with skincare.”
A user allergic to niacinamide loves the Anua 3 Ceramide Panthenol Moisture Barrier Cream, which has treated their skin well without it.
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“Anua 3 Ceramide Panthenol Moisture Barrier Cream has treated my skin so well.”
Their acne marks got noticeably smaller using it twice a week.
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“I like Naturium's tranexamic topical acid 5%. My acne spots noticeably got smaller after using it 2x a week”
Loves it as an affordable water-gel moisturiser.
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“I also love the Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturizer”
The only cleanser that isn't too drying for their combo-normal skin.
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“i have combo-normal skin and i only use LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser. Anything else is too drying for me”
Too drying for their combo-normal skin.
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“Anything else is too drying for me (ex- Vanicream cleanser, Ceravae gentle hydrating cleanser is too drying for my skin)”
Too drying for their combo-normal skin.
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“Anything else is too drying for me (ex- Vanicream cleanser, Ceravae gentle hydrating cleanser is too drying for my skin)”
Redness and flakiness improved within a week of switching.
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“I switched to LRP Purifying Foaming Cleanser and I saw improvements in redness and flakiness in about a week or so.”
Has been great for their skin, alongside glycolic toner.
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“The azelaic acid booster and 5 or 10% glycolic acid toner from Paula's Choice have both been great for my skin.”
Their skin didn’t like it, so they switched cleansers.
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“My skin doesn’t like Cera Ve foaming facial cleanser.”
Exfoliates with Good Genes once a week, leaving it on 15–30 minutes then washing it off; left on, their face peels.
When their barrier is compromised and they still need to exfoliate, The Ordinary's ferment toner works well for them and is kind to the barrier.
Uses the COSRX AHA/BHA toner every other day for congestion, but it strips their barrier: skin looks dehydrated and feels sensitive the next morning.
The CeraVe cream in the tub has an in-between texture for them; a small amount on damp skin absorbs best, too much feels heavy.
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“CeraVe in the tub has that in between feel for me, but it can be a little heavy if you use too much.”
Recommends the Vanicream Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 as a nice, gentle mineral sunscreen.
With eczema and sensitive skin, they really like the Revive Eye Serum and use it all over the face because their skin is sensitive to retinol.
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“beauty of joseon revive eye serum retinal but I use it all over my face since my face is sensitive to retinol.”
Has used it for years: a backlit glow no other vitamin C gives them, oxidises less easily and moisturises, but it's potent and not for beginners.
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“It makes my skin glow like the setting sun. I have used it for years”
The Byoma moisturizing milky toner (blue bottle) is their all-time favourite.
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“My all-time favorite is Byoma moisturizing milky toner. The one in the blue bottle.”
The Vanicream cleanser is basic but never irritates their skin.
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“the vanicream cleanser is so basic but it never irritate my skin”
The Ordinary's fermented milky toner is their favourite and helps their very dry skin with hydration.
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“My personal favorite is the fermented one. It helps my dry as a desert skin so much with hydration.”
Highly recommends the Saccharomyces Ferment Milky Toner and often layers it with The Ordinary's microemulsion moisturizer.
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“The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner for Gentle Exfoliation and Hydration. Highly recommend.”
Calls the Airyfit sunscreen the best ever and is hunting for stock.
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“This is the BEST sunscreen ever.”
A user saw a big improvement in skin quality pairing The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 with the brand's copper peptide serum.
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“I noticed a big improvement in my skin quality combining The Ordinary HA/B5 serum with their Multi-Peptides + Copper.”
Tried it before going on prescription and calls it a trash product.
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“I tried the ordinary AA before going on prescription myself and it really is a trash product”
Their clear skin started breaking out, so they stopped it immediately.
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“So I have tried anua azelaic acid and my perfect skin started getting pimples.”
Loves the Tatcha water cream on dry, mature skin but not the price.
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“I love the Tatcha one but don’t love the price tag.”
Someone with fragrance allergies and acne finds Cicaplast Balm too occlusive for their skin.
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“Yes, the Cicaplast balm is too occlusive for me.”
An esthetician who says Great Barrier Relief changed their skin and strengthened their barrier; starting tretinoin, they never got flaky.
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“I highly recommend trying Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief Serum. It has changed my skin”
Loves the Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh as a lightweight, non-greasy SPF 50+.
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“Personally I love the Beauty of Joseon aqua fresh, it’s SPF 50+ PA++++, and lightweight”
Has very sensitive skin and uses the Vanicream facial moisturizer as a warning sign: if it tingles, their barrier is compromised and they pause actives.
When their barrier is upset, they switch to the tub of Vanicream for a few days.
The foaming CeraVe cleanser doesn't strip, removes all makeup and doesn't sting the eyes.
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“It won’t strip and it gets every bit of makeup off and doesn’t even sting the eyes.”
On their combination skin the gel moisturizer seemed to pull moisture out, even with another moisturizer on top; they had to wash it off. Maybe fine for very oily skin, but awful for them.
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“I have combo skin and I feel like that gel moisturizer sucks moisture out of my skin.”
Uses the DIVE-IN toner with the serum; some call it just water, but they find it simple and not irritating.
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“I use torriden dive in toner + serum, some people complain it’s basically just water but I find it very simple and not irritating”
Uses the DIVE-IN serum with the toner; some call it just water, but they find it simple and not irritating.
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“I use torriden dive in toner + serum, some people complain it’s basically just water but I find it very simple and not irritating”
Cannot recommend the resurfacing retinol serum enough after never noticing a huge acne improvement before.
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“Can’t recommend the resurfacing retinol serum enough!! Best of luck”
After seven years as an oily-skin holy grail, a user finds the Water Cream too light now that their skin has changed in their 30s.
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“I used this for about 7 years as my holy grail as an oily skinned person.”
A user with normal-to-dry skin on tretinoin loves the Dewy Skin Cream but finds it rich enough to use only at night.
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“I love the dewy cream moisturizer but it’s really rich so I only use it at night.”
A sensitive, combination-skin teen water polo player finds the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser dries their skin out.
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“or dry my skin out (bc cleanser - beauty of joseon green plum)”
A game changer for their very dry skin.
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“Tatcha Rice Wash cleanser + Aestura ATOBARRIER365 line have been absolute game changers for my very dry skin”
A 31-year-old with oily skin likes the Toleriane Double Repair SPF 30 moisturizer, but it leaves their face greasy even with a small amount.
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“I like them but they both leave my face greasy.”
Moved to the matte version for their oily skin; still likes it, but it also leaves their face greasy.
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“I like them but they both leave my face greasy.”
A decent moisturizer, but it keeps pilling on them.
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“The LRP double repair keeps pilling on me, otherwise a decent moisturizer.”
Works as a stand-alone moisturizer on their oilier skin: nice gel texture, absorbs quickly, not sticky and never clogs pores, though the hydration is light.
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“The gel texture is nice, absorbs quick and dont leave me sticky”
On dry skin, a user found the Water Cream disappears instantly; by noon their face felt tight and concealer settled into lines.
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“for my dry skin it was like putting nothing on at all, by noon my face felt tight”
Many tiny whiteheads after a week on acne-prone skin.
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“I am experiencing many tiny whiteheads after a week of using the ordinarys niamicide and zinc..”
A user likes the Beauty of Joseon Day Dew sunscreen.
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“Agree with the Innisfree suggestion. I also like Beauty of Joseon Day Dew sunscreen.”
A user relies on the Vanicream Moisturizing Cream in the pump tub as basically the only thing they can use when their moisture barrier is wrecked.
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“On the vanicream train here, the stuff in the tub with the pump is basically all I can use when my moisture barrier gets wrecked”
A user who switched from Cetaphil finds the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser lighter with no film or burn on angry-skin days, and the random red patches stopped after a week.
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“i switched to vanicream gentle cleanser after my skin decided cetaphil was suddenly the enemy.”
On their 4th or 5th bottle: doesn't break out their reactive, Accutane-dry skin and keeps it hydrated.
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“On my 4th or 5th bottle of the byoma milky toner. I've quite reactive skin and it doesnt break me out”
Likes the black rice toner and finds it quite hydrating, but goes through bottles so fast they switched to a cheaper toner.
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“I like haruharu black rice toner, I find it quite hydrating”
Loves the SPF50 on their dry skin, though they can see why it wouldn't suit oily skin.
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“As a dry skin girl, I love the HaruHaru spf50”
On very breakout-prone skin the Dynasty Cream doesn't break them out or irritate; a fairly thin cream they use in the morning.
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“None of these break me out or irritate me at all.”
Their holy grail for repairing the barrier after starting Differin: very nourishing, a thin layer on off nights is enough, and unlike Cicaplast it didn't break them out (can clog if overused).
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“avene cicalfate is my holy grail for this.”
Has used CeraVe's Hydrating Cleanser with no tightness at all; it feels light but cleans fine.
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“I've used both and they don't make you feel any tightness whatsoever.”
Has used the Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser with no tightness at all.
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“I've used both and they don't make you feel any tightness whatsoever.”
Was disappointed by the black rice toner and prefers another rice toner.
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“I was disappointed by Haru Haru black rice toner too.”
One of the worst sunscreens they've tried: broke down their makeup fast while looking dry; the black rice line in general irritated their skin.
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“That spf is up there as one of the worst sunscreens I’ve tried.”
After an allergic reaction wrecked their barrier, the Cicalfate+ cream (with a gentle ceramide essence) was the only thing their skin tolerated at its worst, and it helped them heal.
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“But the Avene Cicalfate was a real lifesaver for me, the only thing my skin could tolerate when it was at its worst.”
Found the toner felt like thick water and kept waiting for it to do something.
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“The Haruharu toner being "thick water" is too real, I had the exact same reaction and kept waiting for something to happen.”
A user calls Vanicream's tub cream their holy grail for any skin irritation.
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“Their tub cream is my HG for all things skin irritation.”
A newly postpartum user has loved The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension through pregnancy and since.
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“Newly postpartum and I have been loving The Ordinary azaleic acid, Mad Hippie vitamin c, and a glycolic acid face maskthrough my pregnancy and now!”
A user says Cicaplast Balm B5+ changed their skin so much, even more than their previous CeraVe combo.
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“you should try cicaplast balm B5 it's honestly changed my skin so much and is even better than this combo”
A user says The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner is cheap for a huge bottle and their skin has never looked better.
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“the ordinary's glycolic acid toner is like seven bucks for a massive bottle and my skin's never looked better”
A user finds their skin looks bright and radiant every time they use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, calling it underrated for about $6.
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“The Ordinary’s Niacinamide is about $6. Every time I use that serum my skin looks bright & radiant.”
Finds Tatcha's purple-jar moisturizer, the Dewy Skin Cream, too greasy.
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“Some people really love the Tatcha moisturizer in the purple container but I find it to be too grea”
With very sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, they love the Tatcha Rice Wash.
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“I’m very sensitive, have rosacea, and my skin is temperamental, I love Tatcha rice wash”
Loves it as one of their favourite bargain skincare products.
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“I love the CeraVe night cream, the cream to foam face wash, the lotion in in the tub”
Loves it as one of their favourite bargain skincare products.
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“I love the CeraVe night cream, the cream to foam face wash, the lotion in in the tub”
Uses it to seal in moisture at night on dry skin in a hot desert climate.
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“a thick moisturizer at night like aquaphor to seal everything in (I use Cerave healing ointment)”
Used it nightly for six months and the milia around their eyes disappeared with no marks.
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“I used Beauty of Joseon revive eye serum RELIGIOUSLY every night, and after six months they literally just disappeared one day”
During and after a fluorouracil reaction, the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser didn't bother their skin.
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“My dermatologist has me using a gentle cleanser (Cerave hydrating doesn’t bother me)”
The only cleanser that has worked for their dry skin after others dried them out.
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“The only thing I've found so far that worked for me was the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser.”
Loves the CeraVe Moisturising Cream: keeps their face hydrated all night with a non-greasy texture, but it isn't fungal-acne safe for them.
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“I love the cerave moisturising cream, it keeps my face hydrated all night and love the texture and that is not greasy”
Their one-product pick: in love with The Ordinary's milky toner, at about $10–12.
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“The Ordinary's milky toner. I am in love with this stuff.”
Their SKIN1004 Madagascar cleanser seems too harsh for their breakout-prone skin.
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“rn have the skin1004 madagascar one but it seems too harsh.”
The COSRX Good Morning cleanser was the only cleanser that didn't break them out.
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“the cosrx good morning one with bha was the only one that didnt inherently break me out”
CeraVe's salicylic acid face wash has done wonders for their skin, doesn't bleach fabrics like benzoyl peroxide, and the big bottle lasts forever.
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“it's done wonders for my skin, and it doesn't stain anything. I use the one by CeraV”
A 20-year-old has used Cicaplast Balm B5+ as their main moisturiser for years because their skin felt dry and irritated without it, but now suspects it was too occlusive for their acne-prone skin.
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“For years i’ve used the cicaplast B5 baume as my primary moisturizer”
On their dry skin the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser made them even drier.
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“Both this one and the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser make even more dry, and I've no idea why.”
Uses CeraVe Moisturizing Cream morning and night as part of the gentle routine that finally improved their acne.
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“cerave moisturizing cream AM and PM”
Their usual last step, but for the past month it hasn't helped their dehydrated, dull skin much.
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“i normally use la Roche posay cicaplast balm as last step.sin ce a month I have noticed it's not helping me much.”
Vouches for the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser: a no-fuss cleanser that doesn't strip the skin.
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“I can only vouch for the Cerave hydrating cleanser but it’s a great no fuss cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin”
Part of the gentle routine that helped their lifelong acne finally improve: Cicaplast Balm B5+ over CeraVe cream at night.
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“cicablast balm b5+ after cerave at night”
A user says the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser works well for them, especially as a morning cleanser.
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“I use the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. It works well for me, especially in the morning.”
On very dry skin, Sunday Riley Good Genes keeps their skin clear and bright.
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“I have very dry skin so I have to be careful with what I use. I really love Sunday Riley’s Good Genes — it keeps my skin clear and bright.”
Likes it on oily, dehydrated skin as their only morning step before sunscreen, though not hydrating enough alone in winter.
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“I like the Byoma milky toner! I use just this and sunscreen in the morning (oily dehydrated skin too)”
Layers it with a milky toner in winter for extra hydration on oily, dehydrated skin.
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“It's probably not hydrating enough on it's own during the winter, I use it along with the Skin1004 Centella Ampoule.”
Regretted buying it right away; the texture didn't feel as nice as Byoma's milky toner so they exchanged it.
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“I got the Beauty of Joseon Rice Milk Toner once because I was influenced, immediate regret”
Uses it on oily, slightly dehydrated skin and finds it perfect.
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“I use the SKIN1004 light cleansing oil and it’s perfect.”
Obsessed with it alongside daily azelaic acid.
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“I don’t use tret, but I do use azelaic acid daily, and I’m obsessed with Laneige cream skin.”
Really likes it with azelaic acid on acne- and perioral-dermatitis-prone skin: hydrating, supple and no filmy residue.
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“I use Azelaic acid 20% and have really liked the Anua glow 70 rice milky toner.”
On their dry, psoriasis-prone skin the Byoma Moisturizing Gel Cream left them greasy, especially in the T-zone.
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“I’ve tried: CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel, The Inkey List Omega Water Cream, Byoma Moisturizing Gel Cream, and so many others.”
Had no issues with the BoJ Ginseng Cleansing Oil, though they disliked the ginseng scent and switched to try another.
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“I had no issues with the BOJ oil cleanser”
On their third bottle: affordable, niacinamide-free and feels lovely.
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“It's like $16 regular price, available a bunch of places including Ulta, does not have niacinamide, and feels lovely. I'm on my third bottle.”
On their fourth 95 ml bottle: the only barrier serum that works for their very oily, acne-prone skin on adapalene; it doesn't break them out despite its thicker texture.
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“it's the only barrier serum that works for my acne prone skin”
Their favourite milky toner after trying Byoma, Laneige, TirTir, Rhode and others; layers under azelaic acid.
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“I have tried byoma, laneige, tirtir, rhode, and others i can no longer remember and the BOJ one is my favorite I've tried”
Good luck with it: layers well with azelaic acid and doesn't pill on oily, dehydrated skin.
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“For a milky one I’ve had good luck with the laneige cream skin refiner”
Helped their skin texture when used in the morning alongside a retinoid routine.
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“I've tried all three and they all helped me with my skin texture”
Loves it among their French pharmacy picks.
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“Roche-Posay Circaplast B5+(love!)”
Twice daily for 1–3 weeks slowly made their milia disappear.
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“I've had a lot of luck with just using over-the-counter 1% retinol over 1-3 weeks 2x a day”
Has used the Dynasty Cream morning and night for two years: at first it really improved their skin, but over the last year their skin has become dull, sensitive and breakout-prone.
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“Initially, they really improved my skin. Over the last year, however, I feel like my skin isn’t benefitting as much anymore”
Two years with the Green Plum cleanser as part of a BoJ routine: a big early improvement that has since faded.
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“Initially, they really improved my skin. Over the last year, however, I feel like my skin isn’t benefitting as much anymore”
Liked the Glow Replenishing toner but wasn't obsessed.
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“I’ve used BoJ Glow Replenishing toner, and I liked it but wasn’t obsessed”
Added the Milky Toner when Accutane left their skin dry and dull and it helped tremendously; nearly two years later it still keeps their skin soft without clogging pores.
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“I incorporated byoma milky toner into my routine and it helped tremendously!”
Loves the Toleriane Double Repair moisturizer with ceramide.
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“I love the La Roche-Posay Facial Moisturizer, Toleriane Double Repair with Ceramide!”
Healed a badly damaged barrier over a long period with no actives; the CeraVe cream was one of the two products that helped most.
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“my top 2 favs would be the cerave cream and the cezanne (Japanese brand) high moisture conditioner as a toner, they both helped a lot.”
The only moisturizer that made their skin plump and glowing, though pricey for the amount.
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“The only one that has ever made me plump and glow was the byoma moisturizing gel cream! Unfortunately it's too pricey for the amount you get in the pump.”
Did little beyond mild hydration and made no difference to their face, so they use it on their arms.
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“I agree that the CosRx doesn’t do much beyond mild hydration. I ended up using it on my arms because it made no difference to my face.”
Finished a bottle and felt it didn't do much beyond hydration.
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“I used Cosrx 6 Peptide skin booster and felt like it didn't do much after finishing the bottle.”
Switched from a $40 cleanser for the price and their skin tolerates it well.
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“I recently switched from Alpha H Balancing Cleanser ($40) to Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser ($10-$15).”
Names it alongside CeraVe PM as a favourite moisturizer.
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“Or skin renewing night cream with peptides.”
Dabbed on milia for 10 minutes over three nights and they cleared; needs great care.
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“I used the ordinary aha and BHA over about three nights, a tiny bit on them for 10 mins and that got rid.”
Names it as their favourite moisturizer overall.
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“Cerave pm is my favorite moisturizer.”
One of the drugstore products that works well for their hormonal, acne-prone skin at 39.
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“I’m now using mostly drugstore skincare, and honestly, I’ve found some really great products!”
The Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer sometimes stung their dry, sensitive skin.
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“Vanicream sometimes stung too.”
Used alone, the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc worked wonders and practically cleared their dark spots.
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“I was using The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, and it worked absolute wonders. It practically made all my dark spots disappear.”
After adding several actives at once their skin broke out; reintroducing one drop of the Granactive Retinoid brought a big bump two days later.
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“On friday I used the retinoid, 1 drop, two days after got a huge bump on my forehead and right cheek.”
On dry, sensitive skin the Byoma pink gel cream tingled.
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“BYOMA tingled, and the smells of La Roche-Posay and Prequel bothered me.”
Has used Paula's Choice azelaic acid for quite a while and finds it awesome.
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“I’ve been using the azeliac acid for quite a while and it is awesome.”
Found the Anua azelaic acid too sticky.
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“I agree about the Anua one. I found it too sticky on my skin too.”
Nice for hydration but no noticeable anti-aging results.
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“I do like the Cosrx because it is very nice for hydration and I layer it in when I need extra”
A few days in on very finicky, breakout-prone skin: soft, not greasy and no pimples so far.
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“I started the Vanicream daily facial moisturizer a few days ago and my skin feels oddly great so far. Super soft but not greasy. So far no pimples”
Paula's Choice azelaic acid irritated them every time.
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“I tried Paula’s choice but I think my skin disagreed with its formula (maybe the added salicylic acid?) Irritated me every single time”
Moved it to body care and isn't sure they'll repurchase.
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“I’ve elevated the CosRX to body care.”
Currently using it but not loving the results so far.
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“I am using the Cosrx one but not loving it.”
A long-time Sephora shopper lists Bioderma Sensibio micellar water among their holy-grail skincare products.
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“Bioderma Sensibio Wicellar Water”
A user with very sensitive skin finds the Vanicream face moisturizer the only one that doesn't irritate them, but too light for dry Colorado air.
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“The vanicream face moisturizer is the best one for me, but its too light here for Colorado's skin-shriveling air.”
An oily/combination user found the Anua azelaic acid serum didn't do much for their hyperpigmentation.
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“I used to use the Anua azelaic acid serum but it wasn’t doing much for me.”
A very oily-skinned user switched from the original to the Aqua-Fresh and loves it, with no pilling even as a makeup primer.
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“I have very oily skin and I used to use the normal BoJ and now use the blue one and love it. Never experienced pilling”
A combination, acne-prone user loved the Korean Relief Sun during a European heatwave, reapplying all day without pilling.
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“I loved the Relief Sun one (korean version) when I was on holiday in Europe last summer during the massive heatwave!”
The ICE Ceramide Cream was one of their favorites; nothing has matched its cooling effect in their night routine.
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“I am looking for recommendations to replace one of my favorite products that has been discontinued - the Sunday Riley ICE ceramide cream.”
Saw no changes with Paula's Choice azelaic acid and found prescription azelaic much more effective.
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“I’ll also add I tried Paula’s Choice as well and saw no changes. It’s not strong enough.”
Two months of good results: the only cream that doesn't break them out or irritate their SLS-allergic skin.
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“I've been using the vanicream moisturizing cream that comes in the tub for the last 2 months and seeing good results.”
A holy grail for dry skin: lightweight yet heavily moisturizing and helpful for a damaged barrier.
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“I just started using and loving La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast Balm - it’s somehow lightweight yet heavily moisturizing”
Burned and dried out their compromised skin.
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“I was trying cerave cream after the new neutrogena moisturizer, and it still burned and dried out.”
Likes it as their moisturizer applied after tretinoin.
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“Apply a moisturizer 30 minutes after tretinoin. I like LRP Toleriane Double Repair.”
On sensitive combination skin, the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser works great.
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“I have a foaming cleanser by Cerave for combination skin which work great.”
Started retinoids with the Revive Eye Serum last year: no irritation going slowly, and it softened their fine lines after about a month, though dark circles may not change.
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“this didnt cause any drama just go slow with it”
Calls Cicalfate+ amazing for barrier repair and for calming redness and irritation.
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“This stuff is amazing for skin barrier repair, it helps a lot with redness and irritation as well.”
Had good luck with the COSRX Ceramide moisturizer during barrier issues.
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“CosRx The Ceramide Skin Barrier Repair Moisturizer is another one I had good luck with when I was having skin barrier issues.”
On very sensitive, acne-prone skin, Anua azelaic acid was well tolerated and improved things by about 30–40%; slow, but they finished a bottle and bought another.
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“My skin tolerated it well and improved by about 30 to 40%. It worked slowly, but I finished one bottle and bought another.”
Three months into Paula's Choice azelaic acid for post-acne marks, they haven't noticed any change.
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“i started using the paula’s choice one like 3 months-ish ago but i don’t know if it’s doing anything to my skin, i haven’t really noticed anything”
Broke them out badly when they tried it on their face.
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“This broke me out so much!!!!! Omg can’t believe I have tried this for my face”
Was a huge culprit behind their burning and irritation.
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“I saw you mentioned using the cerave cream. That was a huge culprit of mine.”
Anua azelaic acid only helped brighten PIH/PIE for them, not their rosacea redness and bumps.
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“I have used anua azelic acid and it only ever helps with brightening PIH / PIE, not the redness and bumps”
An oily, acne-prone user found the Anua azelaic acid serum very good.
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“I used anua azelic acid and it was very good but I am on a budget for now.”
An acne-prone reviewer testing the Korean Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics finds it thick, creamy and very hydrating with a dewy finish and a slight initial white cast that works in.
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“thick, creamy and feels very hydrating on the skin. Has a very dewy, glowy finish.”
A user finds the Aqua-Fresh pilling frustrating; using more product or waiting longer after moisturiser always gave the same result.
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“I agree with everything here, the pilling for the Aqua Fresh is so frustrating.”
Their sensitive skin loves it, though the bottle makes the last 15–20% impossible to get out.
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“I finally tried La Roche Posay double repair moisturizer and my sensitive skin is LOVING it (yay!).”
Too occlusive for their face, so they use it up on their neck.
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“I have been using Vanicream moisturizing cream on my neck because it became to occlusive for my face”
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion morning and night is part of a routine that has kept their skin soft and clear for years.
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“I have a routine I absolutely love that has worked for me for years.”
Used the COSRX Vitamin C 23% serum every other day and broke out badly within days; it cleared once they stopped.
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“I tried the COSRX Pure Vitamin C 23% Serum every other day for a few weeks, but within days, I started to break out BAD.”
The Ordinary's azelaic acid worked for them.
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“This worked for me! Paula's choice broke me out like crazy”
Paula's Choice azelaic acid broke them out badly, likely from the added salicylic acid.
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“Paula's choice broke me out like crazy because it also has salicylic acid and my skin freaked with the combo.”
Lists it among their holy-grail cleansers.
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“My HG’s Vanicream gentle cleanser Thayers milky cleanser Prequel Gleanser”
Recommends it as ultra-light and gel-based for their breakout-prone skin.
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“Torriden dive in soothing cream! Ultra light and gel based.”
On oily, sensitive skin the Anua azelaic serum felt sticky and oily when layered.
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“The Anua serum felt sticky/oily when layered with other products”
A user experienced pilling with the Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics but not with the Aqua-Fresh.
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“That’s so interesting because I actually experienced pilling with the rice + probiotics and not with the aqua fresh”
A user's Aqua-Fresh turned into little balls as soon as they touched their face after it dried.
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“the aqua fresh pilling issue is so real, mine turned into little balls the second i touched my face after it dried down”
Loves The Ordinary azelaic acid's matte finish on their sweaty, oily skin.
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“i used it and i love it”
Had great results with the Paula's Choice AA booster before moving to prescription Finacea.
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“I had great results with the Paula's Choice AA booster before switching to prescription strength Finacea a few months ago.”
A solid fan of the Anua azelaic acid.
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“I'm a solid Anua fan but if the texture doesn't work for you try The Ordinary version.”
A super-oily-skinned user calls the original Relief Sun their holy grail after countless tubes; it feels great and absorbs well.
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“i have super oily skin and the original boj sunscreen is my hg. i’ve gone through too many tubes to count.”
A combination-skin user of the Korean Aqua-Fresh has no pilling, even under makeup, and finds it goes on like the original.
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“i have the Korean version and i haven’t experienced any pilling from the aqua fresh sun cream.”
Finds The Ordinary azelaic acid unpleasantly gritty.
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“The Ordinary is gritty in a really unpleasant way.”
On their 5th or 6th tube: their very reactive skin has improved a lot.
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“I have crazy reactive sensitive skin and I’ve seen such improvement since using it and I’m on at least my 5th or 6th tube.”
A dry, sensitive, breakout-prone user wears the Aqua-Fresh under makeup with no pilling at all.
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“I use the Aqua fresh under my makeup (Westman Atelier) and I haven’t experienced any pilling at all.”
A dry, sensitive, acne-prone user had pilling with the Aqua-Fresh and found it drying and tight, better suited to oilier skin.
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“I also had pilling with the aqua fresh and my skin is dry, sensitive and acne prone. It also feels kinda drying on my skin and makes me feel tight.”
A user who has gone through many tubes of the Aqua-Fresh has never once had pilling.
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“I've used two tubes of the OG version and more than I can count of the Aqua Fresh version. I never once experienced pilling.”
After 2-3 months nightly, breakouts and whiteheads are going away and skin is smoother.
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“My current routine is Morning Wash Moisturize Spf Night Wash Anua azelaic acid Moisturize Ive been running it for a 2-3 months now and the breakouts and whiteheads have definitely been going away and my skin has been”
A great budget replacement for Estée Lauder ANR.
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“discovered the brand Missha has a great dupe called Time Revolution Night Repair. It’s great!”
Loves it for calming redness and evening out skin tone.
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“you should try adding the BoJ calming barrier serum, I LOVE it for redness and evening out tone.”
Super gentle cleanser that suits their acne-prone, oily, sensitive skin.
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“I love the aveeno oat facial cleanser. Super gentle and good for my acne prone, oily and sensitive skin.”
Goes-to thick, fragrance-free cream whenever their skin barrier is damaged.
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“Avene cicalfate is an extremely thick cream for barrier protection. I use it whenever my barrier is messed up. It is fragrance free”
Gave them acne, and their sister broke out badly too.
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“This unfortunately gave me acne, gave it to my sister and she also got very bad acne”
Hydrating, helps with oil control and has worked well for them.
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“It's hydrating, protects and repairs the skin barrier, helps with oil control, and has no pore clogging ingredients.”
Their go-to moisturizer for years, though worried about a reported formula change.
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“Yes this has been my go to for years!”
Has sworn by it for a decade; pricey but a little goes a long way.
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“I've sworn by it for a decade and always miss it when I try other things. It's pricy but you only need a tiny bit”
Their holy grail for almost three years; affordable and easy to find.
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“Byoma Moisturizing Gel-Cream is my HG for almost 3 years. Economical and super accessible”
Says it totally changed their skin; stocks up on it from abroad.
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“This daily cream totally changed my life/ skin.”
Their sensitive combination skin loves it and they always return to it; strong pleasant scent.
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“Unfortunately my skin loves the Tatcha Dewy cream (purple container) and I always go back to it. It smells incredible.”
Thicker than Avène; fills peeling patches so foundation sits well.
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“for daytime under makeup the lrp cicaplast baume is way thicker than avene and actually fills in the peeling bits so foundation sits on top instead of clinging to every dry patch.”
They've used it for years and keep repurchasing.
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“cerave foaming face wash with niacinamide and their skin renewing night cream, have used for years.”
Has used it as a no-rinse cleanser wiped off with a microfiber cloth for close to 10 years.
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“Cetaphil gentle cleanser specifically says it can be massaged in and wiped off.”
Part of a simplified routine with which their skin has never been better.
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“I just simplified my routine and my skin has never been better! Vanicream wash and moisturizer”
Loved it with good results on oily, acne-prone skin, unlike another brand that broke them out.
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“Anua is the first azelaic acid I have ever tried and I loved it. I've had good results from using it.”
Keeps their skin clear and bright when used consistently.
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“I really like the ordinary. So far (!) the formula hasn’t changed since they were bought out”
Has done wonders for their dehydrated, flaky skin under adapalene.
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“Cosrx 6 Peptide Serum has done wonders for my dehydrated, flaky skin.”
Their holy-grail pick: plain, medium weight, hydrating and not greasy.
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“Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer. Boring, not too light but not heavy, hydrating, not greasy.”
Favourite non-greasy moisturizer for their oily skin.
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“I have oily skin and it was such a pain to find a moisturizer that wasn't greasy and that one is my favorite!”
Former beauty creator who has repurchased it repeatedly: hydrating, not greasy, unscented, works under makeup.
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“It sits well under makeup. So hydrating but not greasy. It’s no frills but that’s what makes it so reliable. No scent.”
Nice, but leaves a film on their skin.
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“The Beauty of Joseon dynasty cream is also nice but it feels like it leaves a film on my skin”
Their holy grail for any barrier problem; visibly better skin by the next morning.
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“it's the only product i've ever used where the difference in my skin was night/day when i woke up the next morning.”
The best moisturizer so far for their acne-prone, retinoid-worn skin: hydrating without breakouts, though they want something richer.
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“Currently using Cetaphil moisturizing cream … bought this off hand while on vacation and it’s been the best to my skin, more hydrating but also doesn’t break me out”
Makes their skin feel deeply hydrated under moisturizer.
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“I recently started using haruharu toner under my moisturizer, and it's been so helpful in helping my skin feel deeply hydrated.”
Noticed an exceptional improvement in skin texture after switching to it.
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“In my personal experience I noticed an exceptional difference after I switched to a rice wash (Tatcha brand).”
Liked it; the silicone base even helped smooth out makeup.
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“I first tried The Ordinary based on this sub's suggestion. I liked it”
Their favourite moisturizer; says it completely changed their skin.
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“This is my favorite it completely changed my skin along with cosrx peptide booster serum”
Finally started clearing up their redness; gentle and inexpensive.
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“What's finally started working for me in clearing up redness is azelaic acid—The Ordinary has a 10% azelaic acid that's pretty gentle & helpfully not expensive!”
A dry-skinned tazarotene user layers the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer, an ultra-thin, surprisingly ceramide-rich lotion, so they need less of a pricier cream to stay hydrated all day.
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“Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer”
A super-dry-skinned user calls Laneige Cream Skin a recent favorite milky toner before moisturizer, layering it with a serum and ceramide cream on very dry nights.
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“Laneige Cream Skin is a recent favorite”
They're obsessed with this benzoyl peroxide wash because it doesn't dry out their skin at all, part of the routine that cleared their hormonal acne.
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“I also stated cerave acne foaming cream wash with 10% benzoyl peroxide (I am obsessed with it- it doesn’t dry out skin at all).”
They loved it but had to stop when their skin stopped tolerating niacinamide.
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“I miss Lipid Gold so much. My skin decided to stop tolerating niacinamide, so I had to cut it out.”
Felt sticky and looked very greasy on their very oily skin.
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“i recently tried the 'eucerin clear skin spf 50.' my face felt so sticky, and looked disgustingly greasy.”
Doesn't feel greasy on very oily skin but looks shiny, pills and left white patches over their toner.
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“my face looks shiny with this, not super greasy, and it actually doesn't feel greasy at all. the only problem is this is pilling on my skin”
Their current favourite sunscreen for very oily skin.
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“As someone with very oily skin, my current favorite sunscreen is the BOJ aqua fresh sunscreen.”
Didn't do enough for them; switched to peel pads.
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“The TO peel just wasn’t cutting it for me, unfortunately.”
Remembers it stinging and burning their face badly.
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“sitting on my bedroom floor, face stinging and burning like hell, convincing myself it was good for me”
Used it but noticed no visible results, and suspected their bottle might not be genuine.
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“I dont think i noticed anything from TO peel either.”
Started on the 0.3% Retinol + Bakuchiol twice a week before working up to tret, never had the retinol uglies, and their skin got glowier.
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“I started with the Paula’s Choice 0.3 retinol and bakuchiol twice a week and *very* gradually worked up to tret and now I’m on 0.1 and I have never had the retinol uglies.”
Their absolute favourite skincare product.
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“The Inkey List Azelaic Acid, my absolute favourite skincare product”
One of their favourite budget moisturizers for dull, dry skin.
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“For “cheap” my favorites are illiyoon (avail on Amazon) and vanicream daily moisturizer.”
The only product that keeps their oily skin from getting shiny during the day; worked well under makeup on their wedding day.
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“Supergoop Mineral Matte Sunscreen - this is the only product I have ever found that stops my skin from getting oily during the day. Wore it on my wedding day”
On very oily skin it removes a stubborn tinted mineral sunscreen that regular soap won't.
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“I use a thick mattifying mineral tinted sunscreen that does not budge with regular soap. I use CeraVe Cream to Foam cleanser and it is magic!”
Repaired their irritated, flaky barrier within two days.
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“Cicaplast - apply it throughout the day ( if you tolerate it well) . It worked wonders for me in 2 days.”
Loves it as an on-the-go facial mist.
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“Love Avene thermal water and Heritage Rosewater with glycerin.”
The gentlest cleanser they have found; part of the routine that finally calmed their inflamed skin.
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“Aveeno is the gentlest I found.”
Used a pea-sized amount over the whole face with a rice toner; after about three weeks their acne calmed and marks are fading.
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“Recently i tried k beauty boj retinal eye cream (pea size amount on entire face)”
Great for very dry skin, but an old opened tube caused irritation for them and their nephew; they now finish it within months.
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“I still use it because it’s really good for my skin when it gets super dry.”
Their daily moisturizer since 2021; they bought Vanicream several times but always came back to this.
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“I tried the Vanicream moisturizer and didn't like it as much as LRP Toleriane double repair moisturizer”
Their go-to sunscreen for about eight years; it helped them repair their skin barrier and remains key to their routine.
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“EltaMD Clear spf has been my go to for about 8 years. It helped me fix my skin barrier back then”
Out of 10+ azelaic acids tried, this is their favourite: thin, non-sticky, absorbs quickly and doesn't irritate.
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“There are lots of good ones, but Paula's Choice is my favorite. It is thin, non-sticky, absorbs quickly, and non-irritating.”
Three tubes in, a nice formula that clearly helps their very mild acne, and it's easy to buy cheaply at CVS.
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“I've only used Peach Slices but I've bought three tubes because it is a nice formula and definitely helps with (very mild/minor) acne.”
Mixed with a toner it's incredible on their 51-year-old skin: no dryness, fresh skin and nearly invisible pores.
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“I actually mix it with Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Leave-On Exfoliant and it's incredible.”
A repeat buy: nothing calms their face down faster.
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“The Ordinary Glycolic Acid! Nothing gets my face to chill out quicker than that stuff”
They absolutely loved it but it's too expensive to import where they live.
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“I absolutely loved Stratia Lipid Gold and Stratia Interface when I tried them.”
Absolutely incredible and repurchased many times; switching to cheaper Vanicream left their skin dull and less moisturized.
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“La roche posay cicaplast B5 moisturizer, absolutely incredible, I have repurchased many times”
A repurchase staple, unlike CeraVe which is terrible for their skin.
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“Also, the Cetaphil gentle cleanser. Cerave is terrible for my skin.”
It saved their skin from cystic acne when nothing else worked.
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“The inkey list salicylic cleanser. It saved my skin from cystic acne when nothing else worked!”
A long-time repurchase in their routine.
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“And honestly good ole CeraVe hydrating cleanser.”
The most effective cleansing oil they've tried for blackheads, and it didn't break them out.
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“I've tried a couple different cleansing oils and BoJ's was the most effective (and didn't make me break out!).”
Left their combination, oily skin too shiny under makeup.
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“Skin1004 Centella hyalu-cica moisturize cream (too shiny)”
Watery and soaks in without a film, unlike mineral sunscreens they find greasy.
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“It is watery like a milky toner, so it soaks in and doesn't leave a film.”
Suspects it caused breakouts on their sensitive, dry skin, both when first bought and with recent heavier use.
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“When i got it years ago I bought it alongside many other Anua products and broke out BAD.”
Trying it as a new cleanser and liking it so far; applied to dry skin before rinsing.
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“I’m trying out the squalane cleanser from The Ordinary.”
Their skin loves the tub cream even though the brand's lotion burns them.
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“Yep I can't use the lotion (it burns and causes redness) but my skin LOVES the stuff in the tub.”
Calmed every spot for the first two nights but stopped helping with continued use.
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“I know the first time I used AA it was very good and calmed down every spot first two nights but then I tried to keep using it and obviously that didn’t work”
With mildly sensitive skin, eczema and rosacea, it didn't work for their redness.
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“Paula's Choice's Azelaic acid was one of the first actives I tried for redness and I remember it just seemed it did not work with my skin.”
A daily go-to they love and have used for about seven years.
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“Also love Laroche Posay cicaplast balm I use cerave lotion for my body. Been using all these products for ~7 years now.”
A fixture in their routine for more than five years.
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“with portions of it (like my Cerave hydrating cleanser) sticking around even longer than that.”
Broke them out badly, while other oil cleansers don't.
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“Another vote for the Anua oil cleanser. That stuff broke me out horribly.”
Great and non-irritating for them.
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“The vanicream in a tub a great and non irritating for me though!”
With very sensitive skin, it's one of the few products they repurchase religiously after trying many.
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“I religiously buy Vanicream face wash. Prequel Reactive Skin Solutions. Prequel Half and Half Lightweight Moisturizer. LRP Cicaplast Baumé.”
Broke out a lot while using it and cleared up after stopping.
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“Get rid of this oil cleanser! I was breaking out so much while using it!! Once I stopped, my skin started to get clear.”
Their favourite barrier cream for normal-to-oily skin.
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“My personal favorite is **LRP Cicaplast Baume B5+**, but I have normal-to-oily skin”
Tried both Glow Serum and Glow Deep and neither helped their skin.
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“I've tried both the Glow Serum and Glow Deep Serum, and both of them did not help my skin in any way.”
A user loves the INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm: it removes even waterproof mascara, leaves skin soft and feels soothing thanks to colloidal oatmeal.
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“I love the Inkey lists oat balm cleanser it removes even the toughest waterproof mascara and leaves my skin soft.”
With rosacea and sensitive skin they've used it for years without breakouts or irritation and always come back when they stray.
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“Vanicream gentle facial cleanser and their daily facial moisturizer. They’re both just solid and get the job done.”
Solid on their rosacea-prone, sensitive skin for years with no breakouts or irritation; they always come back to it.
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“Vanicream gentle facial cleanser and their daily facial moisturizer. They’re both just solid and get the job done.”
They've used it for about 15 years, around 60 bottles, going through four a year.
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“Sunday Riley Good Genes. Been using for 15 years ish. Probably on like my 60th bottle”
About ten years and many jars in, they can't stop using it.
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“I've been using First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream for something like 10 years now.”
It pilled badly on them, as did The Ordinary azelaic acid.
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“The ones I've tried (the ordinary and Paula's choice) both pilled badly on me”
Outstanding for sensitive skin: never stings and calms redness, though thick and slow to absorb.
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“I've been using the Vanicream cream in the tub, its a workhorse and it's outstanding. Great for sensitive skin, it really has nothing reactive in it, so it never stings.”
Good for them, a bit heavier than Vanicream.
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“The Cerave moisturizing cream is also good and a little heavier than the Vanicream.”
Dried out their acne-prone skin far too much.
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“I tried cera ve foaming cleanser and it dried out my skin wayyyy too much.”
Works well for their oily, acne-prone skin.
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“currently been using clinique 100h moisturizer really good or byoma gel moisturizer also really good”
Part of a simplified routine for sensitive skin that has their skin looking better than ever.
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“Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil, Vanicream Gentle Cleanser, and Dieux Skin Mercy. My skin has never looked better”
Their holy grail moisturizer that they always return to after trying others.
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“I’ve tried *a lot* and I always return to my HG, First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream.”
Their first commercial face product in years made their skin worse.
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“That was my exact experience. First time I tried a commercial product for my face in years and it made my skin worse!”
Finds it may be smoothing their body skin texture more than urea ever did, though slowly.
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“I’m also experimenting with the ordinary glycolic acid, I feel like that may be doing more (although slowly), than any amount of urea ever did”
Of several luxe retinols, A+ worked best for them: smoother texture, fewer imperfections and no irritation, until they moved to tret.
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“My skin responded best to the Sunday Riley. Visible results with improved texture, surface imperfections reduced, no irritation, skin calm and happy.”
They find it a really good product, unlike the 4/10 rating in the post.
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“I guess it varies from person to person and from skin to skin :) I find it to be a really good product.”
On combination, sensitive skin it caused no issues under powder when going out.
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“I use beauty of joseon aqua sunscreen and elf hd matte powder. I have combination+ sensitive skin and these products didn't cause any issues.”
Cleans effectively without being too stripping.
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“I found the Cerave cream to foam cleanser a good balance between effective and not too stripping.”
Their night moisturizer; the milia they got from heavier creams has stopped.
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“For PM, I use aveeno calm and restore gel moisturizer. I used to get milia from heavy moisturizers but it's completely stopped with those two.”
Has used it and finds it a little stripping, so suggests a gentler water-based cleanser.
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“I’m also familiar with the Cetaphil daily cleanser and it is a little stripping”
Recommends the EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40 as a sunscreen that feels like moisturizer; it has worked so well they see no need to switch.
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“EltaMD UV Daily 40 spf. They also have a UV Daily + Hydration 50spf that I haven’t tried, but the other one has worked so well I don’t feel like I need to try something new.”
Likes the azelaic and finds their skin tolerates the Anua one well.
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“I have been liking the azelaic, and am thinking of trying a new one here soon that's a higher percentage because my skin seems to tolerate the anua one well!”
The best sunscreen they've used on their face; keeps returning to it despite one tube smelling off.
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“It’s still the best sunscreen I've ever used on my face. I keep trying new ones but keep going back to it.”
A hand-me-down bottle of Good Genes made their skin look amazing within a couple of days; it's pricey, and after buying it on and off for a while they eventually stopped noticing results.
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“it was earth shattering how amazing my skin looked in just a couple days”
They love using The Ordinary red peel in the late afternoon before an evening event to help their skin look its best.
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“I love to use the Ordinary red peel or Drunk Elephant babyfacial (similar) before an event.”
On their third bottle, a user loved how gentle it was and how much it helped active hormonal acne.
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“I‘d say I loved it because it was gentle and helped a lot with the active hormonal acne.”
Left a waxy residue on their sensitive skin.
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“Cerave in the tub. It left a…waxy? residue on my face.”
Still likes the Vanicream cleanser but can't use it daily; finds it harsh and needs a creamier one sometimes.
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“I still like the Vanicream cleanser, but I simply can’t use it every single day. I need to use a creamier cleanser sometimes.”
After Vanicream stripped their skin, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser seems to be working well.
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“I'm using cetaphil gentle skin cleanser and it seems to be working well for me.”
Someone with dry, somewhat sensitive skin loves the Tatcha Rice Wash in colder months.
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“I have dry skin and love Tatcha in the cold months and Rhode cleanser in warm months.”
This user loves the Torriden DIVE-IN Cleansing Foam: it foams well, isn't drying, and lasts a long time for $17.
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“I’ve been loving torriden’s dive in face wash. It foams up well but is not drying at all.”